Multnomah County Homelessness Spending

Recently we shared an update about the lack of local action to combat rampant drug use and access to behavioral health services in Portland. Well, the news is even worse than we reported, since we now know that Multnomah County has more than $100 MILLION of unspent money from the Metro supportive housing services (SHS) measure. 

During what is, unquestionably, a public health and safety crisis, the Joint Office of Homelessness Services (JOHS) has underspent its budget by $58.4 million dollars. This isn't new news....underspending was reported in March of 2023 and yet the situation got worse, not better.  We now add another $50.3 M is coming in from further tax collections. The SHS measure, you may recall, is meant to address chronic homelessness in the tri-county area, and was approved by voters in 2020.  Metro is the agency that collects the tax and distributes the funds to the counties and they are responsible for oversight of how the money is spent and how effectively it is used to resolve homelessness.

The Multnomah County Commission has been informed that the situation is so dire that Metro has put the County under a Corrective Action Plan in order to monitor public funds for appropriate use. And Willamette Week has revealed that the County has resisted Metro's efforts to monitor and clarify the situation. The figure below shows how much their budget has increased since 2019.

Metro is so concerned about this fiscal lack of urgency, that they are now making the JOHS Office report monthly on their SHS spending.  Commissioners are showing concern and asking questions.  Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards has asked some tough questions but also productively encouraged greater coordination with the City of Portland toward solutions. 

Given that all this money is available, why aren't we seeing greater progress on our streets?  How has it been spent?  What programs or projects been effective or ineffective? We don't have clear answers on any of these questions.  And...now we have to ask how will this $100 million be spent?  

In the coming weeks, the Commission will be debating what to do with these one-time funds aiming toward a vote on August 24th. 

RPC has long advocated that we need a SAVE Portland plan:

S - Shelter beds, safe rest villages, and additional beds at the Oregon State Hospital in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the entire homeless population;

A - Addiction treatment, mental health counseling, vocational training and all other services necessary to help the homeless;

V - Verification and tracking of individuals' progress using data-driven, "by name" list methodologies; and 

E - Enforcement of applicable statutes and local codes as humanely as possible, using systems such as diversion programs and drug courts, with criminal prosecution as the last resort.

RPC has long stated that all efforts should be laser-focused on reducing homelessness with a continuum of shelter and services. Yet, while we face an addiction crisis and a mental health crisis…we find ourselves in a government crisis over if we can do it.

Instead of giving out tents, we should not be satisfied until no one lives in inhumane conditions on our streets. To quote the Oregonian: “without leadership, a sound strategy and commitment to outcomes, we will be stuck in the same housing emergency” for years to come.

We will keep you informed as this story develops.

May 31st - Significant Vote on Camping Code in Portland

On Wednesday, May 31st, at 2:30 PM the Portland City Council will vote on an emergency ordinance intended to curtail unsheltered homelessness and dangerous public camping in Portland.   Item 451 on the agenda.

SB 337: Oregon Public Defense Funding

Senate Bill 337 will overhaul long-troubled public defender system

Oregon's system of providing public defense could be in for a long-overdue overhaul. SB 337 proposes to hire a new state employee cadre of public defense lawyers and sets benchmarks for state lawyers to handle 20% of cases by 2031 and 30% of cases by 2035. Oregon is the only state in the nation to rely entirely on private attorney contracts to provide legal defense for those who can't afford a lawyer. District Attorneys, law enforcement, and elected leaders often point to these public defense shortages as a major reason for delays and crimes not being fully prosecuted.  

A 2019 report to the legislature, written by the Sixth Amendment Center, found a host of systemic problems. The most notable issues with private attorney contracts were a general lack of oversight and a compensation system which rewards speed and volume instead of accuracy and justice.  "This compensation plan creates an incentive for attorneys to handle as many cases as possible and to do so as quickly as possible, rather than focusing on their ethical duty of achieving the client's case-related goals," the draft report states.

"Yet the state of Oregon has no mechanism to know whether it's fulfilling its obligation to provide counsel to the poor who face incarceration in the justice and municipal courts," the draft report states.

The bill also makes major changes to the Commission who oversees Oregon's system, which has long relied upon private attorneys working on contracts for indigent defense. The bill will increase resources and oversight for those additional contracts.   is a broad overview of the The Senate Committee on Rules will hold a special work session on this legislation on May 18th at 3pm.

Full summary for HB 337 is available here.

"Oregon lawmakers consider bill to overhaul public defense system", The Oregonian, April 3rd, 2023 

HB 3501 Not Advancing, Public Hearing Cancelled

HB 3501 - Right to Rest bill will not advance

The 2023 Right to Rest bill will go no further in the Oregon legislature. After a major outpouring of opposition, House leadership announced that the bill would not be heard and many went out of their way to oppose it. Due to an overwhelming response from those opposed to the bill, such as from many RPC members, the House Majority Leader then had to cancel the public hearing as well. While the public hearing was intended for "discussion" about the concept, the overwhelming opposition caused it to be cancelled. Read RPC's email update.

"Oregon legislators cancel hearing on 'right to rest' homelessness bill after uproar," The Oregonian, May 2nd, 2023

"HB 3501 is not moving forward this session — it's been "dead" since the 1st legislative deadline in March. Nevertheless, it's generated a lot of attention recently. I personally do not support the policy in the bill & I agree with the decision to cancel the hearing" - Rep. Julie Fahey

Public Hearing for "Right to Rest Act"

HB 3501 the "Right to Rest” bill will be heard on public hearing on May 4^th at 8 a.m.

Revitalize Portland Coalition is opposed to this bill and you can read our testimony in opposition to HB 3501.  This bill seeks to decriminalize camping in public places and establishes a series of "rights" for individuals in any public space including free use, resting, occupying a vehicle, camping, etc.   It also creates legal liability for cities and counties with the possibility of civil penalties and compensatory damages.  The bill would prohibit “harassment” which is defined in part as “seriously alarming.” It would also allow individuals to rest in public spaces so long as they do not “obstruct” pedestrians or vehicles.

For the public hearing on HB 3501, the public can participate in two ways:

1. Submit written testimony HERE to be included in the public record.   

2. Register to testify HERE if you want to address the legislature on this matter.

The links above will take you to the Oregon State Legislature's website where you can also find the bill's language and status.  

RPC opposes HB 3501 and believes adding the proposed language to the statutes is a mistake. Specifically,

• RPC is concerned that this bill will overly burden our cities and counties who are already struggling. 
• The proposed language is vague and will create many more problems than it might solve.  It is also not needed.  
• There is no need for these special protections from criminal prosecution as law enforcement and district attorneys are already exercising discretion in not arresting and prosecuting illegal campers. 
• The ambiguities in the bill are an invitation to ongoing lawsuits
• This legislature has already passed 2 pieces of legislation  to ensure that cities and counties comply with a series of recent federal court rulings.